Canadian Foreign Minister meets Kaos GL

17/09/2013

Submitted by
Kaos GL

As a part of his visit to Turkey, Canadian Foregin Minister John Baird met Kaos GL in Istanbul on September 13. Kaos GL’s representative Nevin Öztop met Canadian Foregin Minister John Biard on September 13. Minister was informed mainly on IDAHO actions which Kaos GL is hosting since 2006 with the participation of local and international politicians, academics, artists, writers and LGBT activists. Minister was informed also about the actions Kaos GL is taking on a regional and international scale in the fields ofeducation, labour, health, asylum and trainings for lawyers, teachers and local corresondents. Minister Baird shows particular interest to LGBT rights and religious freedoms around the globe. Baird’s recent public stance against Russia’s recent anti-gay legislation and Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill drew a lot of attention to these problems. Denouncing the homophobic initiatives in Russia, Biard said the initiative was “hateful” and that “it could incite violence”. Following his remarks, the vice-president of “Real Women of Canada”, Gwendolyn Landolt, said that Baird’s actions are “highly offensive to conservative taxpayers” and that his values are “not conservative values and that of grass roots Canadians.” “I wish Kaos GL well in its pursuits”In support of Kaos GL and LGBT movement in Turkey, Baird stated: “I appreciate the difficult work you have undertaken to end discrimination and violence against sexual minorities in the name of freedom. I wish you well in these pursuits." Baird also met his counterpart Davutoğlu and President Abdullah Gül during his visit. IDAHO actions are dedicated to May 17, the day World Health Organization removed “homosexuality” out of its mental illness list in 1990. This year’s IDAHO actions took place in 17 cities in Turkey: Kocaeli, Eskişehir, Samsun, Mersin, Edirne, Diyarbakır, Sakarya, Balıkesir, Kars, Nazilli, Muğla, Malatya, Antalya, Bursa, Adana, Ankara and Istanbul. Local events were supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Main events were supported by the Norwegian and French Embassies in Ankara.

<p>As a part of his visit to Turkey, Canadian Foregin Minister John Baird met Kaos GL in Istanbul on September 13. Kaos GL’s representative Nevin Öztop met Canadian Foregin Minister John Biard on September 13. Minister was informed mainly on IDAHO actions which Kaos GL is hosting since 2006 with the participation of local and international politicians, academics, artists, writers and LGBT activists. Minister was informed also about the actions Kaos GL is taking on a regional and international scale in the fields of<b>education, labour, health, asylum and trainings for lawyers, teachers and local corresondents</b>. Minister Baird shows particular interest to LGBT rights and religious freedoms around the globe. Baird’s recent public stance against <b>Russia’s recent anti-gay legislation</b> and <b>Uganda’s “kill the gays”</b> bill drew a lot of attention to these problems. Denouncing the homophobic initiatives in Russia, Biard said the initiative was “hateful” and that “it could incite violence”. Following his remarks, the vice-president of “Real Women of Canada”, Gwendolyn Landolt, said that Baird’s actions are “<b>highly offensive to conservative taxpayers</b>” and that his values are “not conservative values and that of grass roots Canadians.” <b>“I wish Kaos GL well in its pursuits”</b>In support of Kaos GL and LGBT movement in Turkey, Baird stated: “I appreciate the difficult work you have undertaken to end discrimination and violence against sexual minorities in the name of freedom. I wish you well in these pursuits.&quot; Baird also met his counterpart Davutoğlu and President Abdullah Gül during his visit. <b>IDAHO</b> actions are dedicated to May 17, the day World Health Organization removed “homosexuality” out of its mental illness list in 1990. This year’s IDAHO actions took place in 17 cities in Turkey: Kocaeli, Eskişehir, Samsun, Mersin, Edirne, Diyarbakır, Sakarya, Balıkesir, Kars, Nazilli, Muğla, Malatya, Antalya, Bursa, Adana, Ankara and Istanbul. Local events were supported by the <b>Canada Fund for Local Initiatives</b> (CFLI). Main events were supported by the <b>Norwegian</b> and <b>French Embassies</b> in Ankara. </p>